Fans cheer for absent Ronaldo as Saudi row deepens

Al Nassr fans showed their support for Cristiano Ronaldo on Friday as the Portuguese star missed a second straight game after reportedly growing frustrated over transfers.

The 41-year-old was absent from the matchday squad for Al Nassr’s 2-0 win against Al Ittihad after also missing Monday’s 1-0 victory over Al Riyadh.

Fans held up placards showing ‘7’, Ronaldo’s shirt number, in the seventh minute of the game at Al Nassr’s home ground in Riyadh.

Portugal’s A Bola newspaper said Ronaldo has complained that rival Saudi Pro League clubs got a better deal in the recent transfer window.

League leaders Al Hilal, one point ahead of Al Nassr, signed ex-Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema who scored a hat-trick on debut after switching from Al Ittihad.

Al Nassr, Al Hilal, Al Ittihad and Al Ahli are all owned by the Public Investment Fund, oil-rich Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund.

Ronaldo has not commented publicly but a widely reported Saudi Pro League statement said the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, “like any elite competitor, wants to win.

“However, no individual, no matter how important, can influence decisions outside of their club.”

Ronaldo is yet to win the Saudi league since joining Al Nassr in January 2023. Several big names have followed him to Saudi Arabia, which will host the 2034 World Cup.